Kasganj riot: UP police cracks down on 'admins' of social media

Ten days after communal violence rocked the Kasganj town, claiming one life and leaving several others injured, the Uttar Pradesh police turned its attention to the ''admins'' of the social media, who ''incited'' communal hatred through provocative posts.

According to the sources here, police on Tuesday nabbed one Ram Singh, who was ''admin'' of a WhatsApp group, and had posted pictures of a burning place of worship at Kasganj during the communal violence.

Singh had posted a video containing provocative content on the social media, the police said.

Police were looking for another person, identified as Ajai Gupta, who had shared the posts and the video with his friends and members of his group on the social media.

Gupta has been absconding, police said adding that a hunt had been launched to nab him.

Police officials said that they were scouring the social media to find out about more such groups and if they had also posted provocative videos and posts regarding the violence.

Police on Tuesday nabbed Salman, who was allegedly involved in firing on the day the violence had broken out at Kasganj, sources said. So far over 125 people have been arrested in connection with the violence.

The family of Chandan Gupta, who was killed in the Kasganj violence, on Tuesday met chief minister Yogi Adityanath and sought martyr status for him.

Later speaking to reporters, the family members said that Adityanath had assured all help to them but remained mum on declaring him a martyr.